In brief
President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between the United States and Ukraine on Sunday, but Russia immediately struck six Ukrainian energy sites. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks destroyed gas stations, power grids and other infrastructure, causing blackouts in Izyum and further damage in western Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the ceasefire, stating Ukraine did not deserve a respite. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the conflict and questions the effectiveness of the newly declared truce.
Russia struck six Ukrainian energy sites hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire with Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
The Russian attacks came just minutes after Trump declared the truce would be "effective immediately," targeting gas stations and other energy infrastructure across Ukraine. A strike on the city of Izyum destroyed power grids, plunging the area into blackouts, while energy and railway facilities in western Ukraine also suffered damage overnight.
"We did not attack, while Russia attacked our gas stations, energy infrastructure and other facilities," Zelensky said in a Fox News interview, noting 33 people were injured in the strikes. He added that the attack was "Putin's answer to President Trump."
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the ceasefire, saying Ukraine does not deserve the "respite" it might bring. The Kremlin has long maintained that any energy infrastructure it hits serves the war effort, but Ukrainian officials view the strikes as deliberate attempts to break the truce.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state‑owned grid operator, announced new power cuts in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, citing damage from Russian attacks. Electricity rationing was introduced to prevent overloading damaged equipment.
International reactions have been mixed. The UK, France, Canada and the EU expressed support for the ceasefire, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas voiced doubts that Russia would honour it. Estonian foreign minister also criticised the ceasefire for being ineffective against Russian operations.
The ceasefire comes amid rising fuel prices worldwide and the U.S. President’s plan to import Russian diesel, temporarily easing U.S. sanctions on energy imports. Zelensky praised the agreement as a "gift" to President Putin, warning that Russia’s continued strikes on energy infrastructure undermine any sustained truce.
The incident underscores the fragile nature of the conflict and the continued use of energy targets as strategic weapons, amid an ongoing escalation that threatens both civilian and military infrastructure across Ukraine.
